“Checkmate”

We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

2 Corinthians 10:4 (NLT)

Have you ever played chess? It’s a game of strategy and skill. It’s foresight and planning. Chess takes time and patience. It’s good to know your opponent in order to strategize better.

The following story isn’t in the Bible, but this is how I often see my struggles in life played out.

The devil and Jesus sit down to a game of Chess. It’s a battle for my soul. I already belong to Christ, so instead, the devil plays for my attention, my allegiance, and the opportunity to accuse me to God the Father in front of the world. Two-thirds of the way through the game, Satan begins to see success in his strategy to prove my failure. A sinister chuckle escapes as he makes his next move, thinking to himself, “This will ruin her testimony for sure.”

Satan sits back in his seat, waiting for Jesus’ next move. Without hesitation, as though He knows Satan’s entire playbook by heart, Christ moves His piece. The fact is, Christ does know Satan’s playbook. With a grimace and a frown, Satan hurries to make his next play. This game is nearly finished. As he examines the board, his frown turns to a cocky little grin. “I’ve got this one,” he says to himself under his breath.

Now, with only a handful of opposing pieces left on the board, the arrogant ruler of demons folds his arms across his chest and glares at the Son of God sitting opposite him. “This one’s mine! I may never own her, but I can destroy her.”

As Jesus Christ leans forward with purpose reflecting in His fierce, loving eyes, He begins quoting the Father’s Plan:

“But I* was pierced for her* rebellion, crushed for her sins. I was beaten so she could be whole. I was whipped so she could be healed…”**

A groan escapes the devil’s lungs as sees the one play he missed. He was so sure… He was confident, cocky even, that he would win this skirmish with the Creator. But now, now he sees his defeat, yet again, as Christ’s words pour forth in authority and power as He makes His final move.

“My sheep listens to My voice; I know her, and she follows Me. I give her eternal life, and she will never perish. No one can snatch her away from Me, for My Father has given her to Me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because she belongs to Me, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed her from the power of sin that leads to death.”***

At this point, the devil screams in the torment of defeat right before Jesus speaks His final word:

“Checkmate.”

*I made these Scriptures personal by using first person pronouns. The Bible actually reads “he” referring to Jesus Christ, and “they/them/their referring to those who follow Jesus Christ

**Isaiah 53:5 (New Living Translation)

***John 10:27-29; Romans 8:1 (New Living Translation)